Premature Baby – An Emotional Journey

The birth of a child is an amazing thing. For most parents, it is an experience filled with joy and elation. For some, though, it is a time filled with stress and apprehension, especially when it’s a premature birth.
My wife Lori and I recently experienced first hand the emotional roller coaster ride after [...]

Premature Patience – Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop

This article is a continuation from Premature Distraction – Both Kids Get Sick
It was Saturday morning, and Caitlin was just six days old. It’s hard to explain the effect of being in the NICU on parents, especially if your child has problems. The hours seem like days and the minutes like hours. [...]

Premature Anguish – A Repeat Performance

This article is a continuation from Premature Doubt – Emotional Overload

So there we were, sitting alone in the multipurpose room again. As soon as we sat down, I could tell that Lori’s mind was racing, and mine was too. Compelled by anxiety, both of us walked into the lobby area and peaked around [...]

Premature Heartache – Darkness before Light

This article is a continuation from Premature Panic – Hitting Rock Bottom
Lori and I were sitting in the cafeteria when her cell phone rang. It was the doctor calling from upstairs in the NICU. She told us that the PICC line procedure was successful, and they confirmed by x-ray that the placement was [...]

Premature Confidence – The Long Fall Down

This article is a continuation from Premature Hope – The Calm Before the Storm
Having a baby is a big deal. There are a lot of people you need to call, ranging from family and friends to bosses and insurance companies. After leaving Caitlin in the NICU and going back to Lori’s room, the [...]

Premature Birth – Not Quite the Joyful Experience

This article is a continuation from Premature Labor – Dealing With the Unexpected
I got to the hospital shortly after 11:00 a.m. Since it was a Sunday, the only entrance open was the Emergency Room, so I asked the attendant nurse if she knew where I should go to find Lori.
“I haven’t seen any pregnant [...]

Introducing Baby Caitlin

After much fanfare and anticipation, I’m proud to introduce you to baby Caitlin:

She couldn’t wait to meet you all, so she decided to come 6 weeks early! Mom did an awesome job, and I’m very proud of her. After 21 hours of relatively easy yet prolonged labor – bada-bing-bada-boom – mom gave 3 [...]